The Constitution 


of the 



nited States. 








c y:\ \ -Lvx. V X 


nr HK 


CONSTITUTION 


I'NITEl) STATES OF AMERICA 


LITERAL PRINT 


WASHINGTON 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

1895 



■*A 




Two hundred and fifty copies printed from type. 


Number 



oocy 








'j 





We the People of the United States, in Order to form a 
more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tran¬ 
quility, provide for the common defence, promote the gen¬ 
eral Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to 
ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this 
Constitution for the United States of America. 

Article. I. 

Section, i. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be 
vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall con¬ 
sist of a Senate and House of Representatives. 

Section. 2. The House of Representatives shall be com¬ 
posed of Members chosen every second Year by the People 
of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall 

the 

have^Oualifications requisite for Electors of the most numer¬ 
ous Branch of the State Legislature. 

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have 
attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven 
Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, 
when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he 
shall be chosen. 

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned 
among the several States which may be included within this 
Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be 
determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, 

3 


4 


including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and 
excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. 
The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years 
after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, 
and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such 
Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Rep¬ 
resentatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, 
but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and 
until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New 
Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts 
eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Con¬ 
necticut five, New-York six. New Jersey four, Pennsylvania 
eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten. North Caro¬ 
lina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three. 

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any 
State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of 
Election to fill such Vacancies. 

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker 
and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Im¬ 
peachment. 

Section. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be com¬ 
posed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the 
Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall 
have one Vote. 

Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence 
of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may 
be'into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first 
Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, 
of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and 


5 

of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that 
one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacan¬ 
cies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess 
of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may 
make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the 
Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies. 

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained 
to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of 
the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an 
Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. 

The Vice President of the United States shall be Presi¬ 
dent of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be 
equally divided. 

The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a 
President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice Presi¬ 
dent, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of 
the United States. 

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeach¬ 
ments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on 
Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United 

is tried, 

States^the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall 
be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the 
Members present. 

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend 
further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to 
hold and enjoy any Office of honor. Trust or Profit under 
the United States: but the Party convicted shall neverthe¬ 
less be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and 
Punishment, according to Law. 


6 


Section. 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elec¬ 
tions for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed 
in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress 
may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, 
except as to the Places of chusing Senators. 

The Congress shall assemble at least once in ever)^ Year, 
and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, 
unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day. 

Section. 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, 
Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Ma¬ 
jority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but 
a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be 
authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in 
such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may 
provide. 

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, 
punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the 
Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member. 

Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and 
from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as 
may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and 
Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, 
at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on 
the Journal. 

Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, 
without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than 
three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the 
two Houses shall be sitting. 

Section. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a 


7 


Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, 
and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They 
shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the 
Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance 
at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to 
and returning from the same; and for any Speech or De¬ 
bate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any 
other Place. 

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time 
for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office 
under the Authority of the United States, which shall have 
been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been 
encreased during such time, and no Person holding any 
Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either 
House during his Continuance in Office. 

Section. 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in 
the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose 
or concur with Amendments as on other Bills. 

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Repre¬ 
sentatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be 
presented to the President of the United States; If he ap¬ 
prove he shall sign it, but if not he shall rjeturn it, with his 
Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, 
who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and 
proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two 
thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be 
sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by 
which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by 
two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all 


such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined 
by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting 
for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of 
each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned 
by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after 
it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a 
Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Con¬ 
gress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which 
Case it shall not be a Law. 

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concur¬ 
rence of the Senate and House of Representatives may 
be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall 
be presented to the President of the United States; and 
before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by 
him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two 
thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, accord¬ 
ing to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case 
of a Bill. 

Section. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and col¬ 
lect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts 
and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare 
of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises 
shall be uniform throughout the United States; 

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; 

' To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among 
the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; 

'To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uni¬ 
form Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the 
United States; 


9 


To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of for¬ 
eign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; 

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Se¬ 
curities and current Coin of the United States; 

To establish Post Offices and post Roads; 

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, 
by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors 
the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discov¬ 
eries ; 

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; 

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on 
the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations; 

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, 
and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; 

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of 
Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two 
Years; 

To provide and maintain a Navy; 

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of 
the land and naval Forces; 

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the 
Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Inva¬ 
sions ; 

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the 
Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be 
employed in the Service of the United States, reserving 
to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, 
and the Authority of training the Militia according to the 
discipline prescribed by Congress; 


lO 


To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatso¬ 
ever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) 
as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance 
of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the 
United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places 
purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in 
which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, 
Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;—And 

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper 
for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all 
other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Govern¬ 
ment of the United States, or in any Department or Officer 
thereof. 

Section. 9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons as 
any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, 
shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year 
one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty 
may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten 
dollars for each Person. 

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be 
suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion 
the public Safety may require it. 

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be 
passed. 

No Capitation, or other direct. Tax shall be laid, unless 
in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before 
directed to be taken. 

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from 
any State. 


No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Com¬ 
merce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of 
another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be 
obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another. 

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in 
Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a reg¬ 
ular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expendi¬ 
tures of all public Money shall be published from time to 
time. 

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United 
States: And no Person holding"*any Office of Profit or 
Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Con¬ 
gress, accept of any present. Emolument, Office, or Title, 
of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign 
State. 

Section. lo. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, 
or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; 
coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold 
and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any 
Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the 
Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility. 

the 

No State shall, without the Consent of^Congress, lay any 
Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may 
be absolutely necessary for executing it’s inspection Laws: 
and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any 
State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the 
Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be 
subject to the Revision and Controul of^Congress. 

No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay 


12 


any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in 
time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with 
another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, 
unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will 
not admit of delay. 

Article. II. ♦ 

Section, i. The executive Power shall be vested in a Pres¬ 
ident of the United States of America. He shall hold his 
Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with 
the Vice President, chos'en for the same Term, be elected, 
as follows 

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Leg¬ 
islature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal 
to the whole .Number of Senators and Representatives to 
which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no 
Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of 
Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed 
an Elector. 

The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and 
vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall 
not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. 
And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, 
and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall 
sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the 
Government of the United States, directed to the Presi¬ 
dent-of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in 
the Presence of the Senate and House of Representa¬ 
tives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then 


4 


be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of 
Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Ma¬ 
jority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if 
there be more than one who have such Majority, and 
have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Rep¬ 
resentatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them 
for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from 
the five highest on the List the said House shall in like 
Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, 
the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from 
each State having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose 
shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of 
the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be neces¬ 
sary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the 
President, the Person having the greatest Number of 
Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if 
there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, 
the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice Presi¬ 
dent. 

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the 
Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; 
which Day shall be the same throughout the United States. 

No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of 
the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Consti¬ 
tution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither 
shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not 
have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been 
fourteen Years a Resident within the United States. 

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or 


H 

of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Pow¬ 
ers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve 
on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law pro¬ 
vide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Ina¬ 
bility, both of the President and Vice President, declaring 
what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer 
shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a 
President shall be elected. 

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his 
Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased 
nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have 
been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period 
any other Emolument from the United States, or any of 
them. 

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall 
take the following Oath or Affirmation: — “I do solemnly 
swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of 
President of the United States, and will to the best of my 

Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the 

United States.” 

Section. 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of 
the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia 
of the several States, when called into the actual Service of 
the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, 
of the principal Officer in each of the executive Depart¬ 
ments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their re¬ 

spective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves 
and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except 
in Cases of Impeachment. 


15 


He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Con¬ 
sent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds 
of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and 
by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall 
appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, 
Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the 
United States, whose Appointments are not herein other¬ 
wise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: 
but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of 
such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President 
alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Depart¬ 
ments. 

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies 
that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by grant¬ 
ing Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next 
Session. 

Section. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress 
Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to 
their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge neces¬ 
sary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, 
convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of 
Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of 
Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he 
shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other 
public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faith¬ 
fully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the 
United States. 

Section. 4. The President, Vice President and all civil Offi¬ 
cers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on 


Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or 
other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. 

Article III. 

Section, i. The judicial Power of the United States, shall be 
vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as 
the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. 
The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall 
hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at 
stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, 
which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in 
Office. 

Section. 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in 
Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws 
of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be 
made, under their Authority; — to all Cases affecting Am¬ 
bassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls; — to all 
Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction; — to Contro¬ 
versies to which the United States shall be a Party; — to 
Controversies between two or more States;—between a 
State and Citizens of another State;—between Citizens of 
different States,—between Citizens of the same State claim¬ 
ing Lands under Grants of different States, and between a 
State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens 
or Subjects. 

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Minis¬ 
ters-and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, 
the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all 
the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall 


7 


have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with 
such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Con¬ 
gress shall make. 

The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeach¬ 
ment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the 
State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; 
but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be 
at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have 
directed. 

Section. 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist 
only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their 
Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall 
be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two 
Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open 
Court. 

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punish¬ 
ment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work 
Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life 
of the Person attainted. 


Article. IV. 

Section, i. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each 
State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings 
of every other State. And the Congress may by general 
Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records 
and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof. 
Section. 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to 
all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several 
States. 


A Person charged in any State with Treason, PTlony, 
or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found 
in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Au¬ 
thority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, 
to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the 
Crime. 

No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, 
under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in 
Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be dis¬ 
charged from such Service or Labour, but shall be deliv¬ 
ered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or 
Labour may be due. 

Section. 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress 
into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or 
erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor 
any State be formed by the Junction of two or more 
States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legis¬ 
latures of the States concerned as well as of the Con¬ 
gress. 

The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make 
all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory 
or other Property belonging to the United States; and noth¬ 
ing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Preju¬ 
dice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular 
State. 

Section. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every 
State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, 
and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on 
Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when 


9 


the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Vio¬ 
lence. 

Article. V. 

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall 
deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Con¬ 
stitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two 
thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for pro¬ 
posing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to 
all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when 
ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several 
States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the 
one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed 
by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may 
be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred 
and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth 
Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that 
no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of it’s 
equal Suffrage in the Senate. 

Article. VI. 

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, 
before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid 
against the United States under this Constitution, as under 
the Confederation. 

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States 
which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties 
made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the 
United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and 


20 


the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing 
in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary 
notwithstanding. 

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, 
and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all 
executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States 
and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affir¬ 
mation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test 
shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or 
public Trust under the United States. 

Article. VII. 

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall 
be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution be¬ 
tween the States so ratifying the Same. 

done in Convention by the Unani¬ 
mous Consent of the States present 
the Seventeenth Day of September in 
the Year of our Lord one thousand 
seven hundred and Eighty seven and 
of the Independance of the United 
States of America the Twelfth In 
witness whereof We have hereunto 
subscribed our Names, 

Attest William Jackson Secretary QO WASHINGTON_Presid^ 

and deputy from Virginia 

(John Langdon 
New Hampshire J 

(Nicholas Gilman 


The Word, “ the,” being in¬ 
terlined between the seventh 
and eighth Lines of the first 
Page, The Word “Thirty” 
being partly written on an 
Erazure in the fifteenth Line 
of the first Page, The Words 
“is tried” being interlined 
between the thirty second and 
thirty third Lines of the first 
Page and the Word “the” 
being interlined between the 
forty third and forty fourth 
Lines of the second Page. 


21 


Massachusetts 

Connecticut 
New York . 


( Nathaniel Gorham 
( Rufus King 

j Sam^ Johnson 
(Roger Sherman 

Alexander Hamilton 


New Jersey 


Pensylvania 


Delaware 


Maryland 


Virginia 


Wil: Livingston 
David Brearley. 

WM Paterson. 

Jon a: Dayton 

B Franklin 
Thomas Mifflin 
Rob”^ Morris 
Geo. Clymer 
Tho^ FitzSimons 
Jared Ingersoll 
James Wilson 
Gouv Morris 

Geo: Read 

Gunning Bedford jun 
^ John Dickinson 
Richard Bassett 
Jaco: Broom 

f James McHenry 
\ Dan of Tho^ Jenifer 
Dan^ Carroll 

(John Blair— 

(James Madison Jr. 





22 


North Carolina 


South Carolina 


Blount 

■{ Rich^ Dobbs Spaight. 
l^Hu Williamson 

( J. Rutledge 

I Charles Cotesworth Pinckney 

j 

Charles Pinckney 
Pierce Butler. 


Georgia 


( William Few 
( Abr Baldwin 


In Convention Monday September 17^^ i 7 ^ 7 - 

Present 
The States of 

New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, M'' Hamilton 
from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and 
Georgia. Resolved, 

That the preceeding Constitution be laid before the 
United States in Congress assembled, and that it is the 
Opinion of this Convention, that it should afterwards be sub¬ 
mitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen in each State 
by the People thereof, under the Recommendation of its 
Legislature, for their Assent and Ratification; and that 
each Convention assenting to, and ratifying the Same, 
should give Notice thereof to the United States in Con¬ 
gress assembled. 

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Convention, that 




23 


as soon as the Conventions of nine States shall have ratified 
this Constitution, the United States in Congress assembled 
should fix a Day on which Electors should be appointed by 
the States which shall have ratified the same, and a Day on 
which the Electors should assemble to vote for the Presi¬ 
dent, and the Time and Place for commencing Proceedings 
under this Constitution. That after such Publication the 
Electors should be appointed, and the Senators and Repre¬ 
sentatives elected: That the Electors should meet on the 
Day fixed for the Election of the President, and should 
transmit their Votes certified, signed, sealed and directed, 
as the Constitution requires, to the Secretary of the United 
States in Congress assembled, that the Senators and Repre¬ 
sentatives should convene at the Time and Place assigned; 
that the Senators should appoint a President of the Senate, 
for the sole Purpose of receiving, opening and counting the 
Votes for President; and, that after he shall be chosen, 
the Congress, together with the President, should, without 
Delay, proceed to execute this Constitution. 

By the Unanimous Order of the Convention 

Washington Presid^ 

W. Jackson Secretary. 


Congress of the United States, 
begun and held at the City of New-York, on 
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hun¬ 
dred and eighty nine. 

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at 
the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a 
desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its 
powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses 
should be added: And as extending the ground of public 
confidence in the Government, will best ensure the benifi- 
cent ends of its institution: 

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representa¬ 
tives of the United States of America, in Congress assem¬ 
bled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the follow¬ 
ing Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several 
States, as Amendments to the Constitution of the United 
States, all or any of which Articles, when ratified by three 
fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and 
purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz‘ 

Articles in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitu¬ 
tion of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, 
and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursu¬ 
ant to the fifth Article of the Original Constitution. 

Article the first.After the first enumeration required by 

the first Article of the Constitution, there shall be one 
Representative for every thirty thousand, until the num- 


24 



25 


V 


ber shall amount to one hundred, after which, the pro¬ 
portion shall be so regulated by Congress, _ that there 
shall/^no^D^less than one hundred Representatives, nor 
less than one Representative for every forty thousand 
persons, until the number of Representatives shall 
amount to two hundred, after which the proportion 
shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not 
be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more 
than one Representative for every fifty thousand per¬ 
sons. 

Article the second...No law, varying the compensation for the 
services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take 
effect, until an election of Representatives shall have in¬ 
tervened. 

Article the third.Congress shall make no law respecting 

an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free 
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, 
or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to 
assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress 
of grievances. 

Article the fourth.A well regulated Militia, being necessary 

to the security of a free State, the right of the people 
to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. 

Article the fifth.No Soldier shall, in time of peace be 

quartered in any house, without the consent of the 
Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be pre¬ 


scribed by law. 

Article the sixth.The right of the people to be secure in 

their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unrea- 






26 


sonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and 
no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, sup¬ 
ported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describ¬ 
ing the place to be searched, and the persons or things 
to be seized. 

Article the seventh.. No person shall be held to answer for 
a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a pre¬ 
sentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases 
arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, 
when in actual service in time of War or public danger; 
nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to 
be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be 
compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against 
himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, 
without due process of law; nor shall private property 
be taken for public use, without just compensation. 

Article the eighth...In all criminal prosecutions, the accused 
shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an 
impartial jury of the State and district wherein the 
crime shall have been committed, which district shall 
have been previously ascertained by law, and to be in¬ 
formed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to 
be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have 
compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his 
favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his de¬ 
fence. 

Article the ninth.. In Suits at common law, where the value 
in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of 
trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a 


27 


jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of 
the United States, than according to the rules of the 
common law. 

Article the tenth.Excessive bail shall not be required, 

nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual 
punishments inflicted. 

Article the eleventh....The enumeration in the Constitution, 
of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or dis¬ 
parage others retained by the people. 

Article the twelfth...The powers not delegated to the United 
States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the 
States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to 
the people. 

Frederick Aucustus Muhlenberg Speaker 

of the House of Representatives. 

John Adams, Vice-President of the United States, 

and President of the Senate. 

Attest, 

John Beckley, Clerk of the House of Representatives. 
Sam. a. Otis Secretary of the Senate.'^' 

*The first two amendments here appearing were not adopted. The ten following were 
ratified, and the ratifications were communicated by the President to Congress, from time to 
time, as the several States notified him of their action. They now stand as the first ten amend¬ 
ments to the Constitution. 






Third 


Congress of the United States: 
At the First session, 


Begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, in the State 
of Pennsylvania, on Monday the Second of December one 
thousand seven hundred and ninety-three. 

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two 
thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Article 
be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as an 
amendment to the Constitution of the United States; which 
when ratified by three-fourths of the said Legislatures shall 
be valid as part of the said Constitution, viz: 

The Judicial power of the United States shall not be 
construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced 
or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens 
of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign 
State. 


Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Speaker 

of the House of Representatives. 

(Vice President of the United States 
John Adams, j 

(and President of the Senate. 

John Beckley,... Clerk of the House of Repre¬ 



sentatives. 

Sam. a. Otis Secretary of the Senate.'^' 


* The eleventh amendment was declared by the President, in a message to Congress dated 
January 8, 1798, to have been ratified by three-fourths of the States. 

28 




EIGHTH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES; 


AT THE FIRST SESSION, 

Begun and held at the city of Washington, in the territory 
of Columbia, on Monday, the seventeenth of October, 
one thousand eight hundred and three. 


Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America, in Congress assembled, Two 
thirds of both houses concurring, that in lieu of the third 
paragraph of the first section of the second article of the 
constitution of the United States, the following be proposed 
as an amendment to the constitution of the United States, 
which when ratified by three-fourths of the legislatures of the 
several states, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as 
part of the said constitution, to wit: 

The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and 
vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of 
whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state 
with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the per¬ 
son voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person 
voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists 
of all persons voted for as PreHdent. and of all persons 
voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for 
each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit 
sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, 

29 


30 

directed to the President of the Senate;—The President of 
the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House 
of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes 
shall then be counted;—The person having the greatest num¬ 
ber of votes for President, shall be the President, if such 
number be a majority of the whole number of Electors 
appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from 
the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three 
on the list of those voted for as President, the House of 
Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the 
President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be 
taken by states, the representation from each state having 
one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a 
member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a ma¬ 
jority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And 
if the House of Representatives shall not choose a Presi¬ 
dent whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, 
before the fourth day of March next following, then the 
Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of 
the death or other constitutional disability of the President.— 
The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice- 
President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a 
majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if 
no person have a majority, then from the two highest 
numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice- 
President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two- 
thifds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of 
the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no 
person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President 


31 


shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United 
States. 

Nath^" Macon Speaker of the House 

of Representatives. 
A. Burr Vice-President of the United 

States, and President of the Senate. 

Attest— 

John Beckley. — Clerk of the House of Representatives. 
Sam : A. Otis Secretary of the Senate.'^ 

* The twelfth amendment, proposed in lieu of the original third paragraph of section i 
of Article II, was declared in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, dated September 25, 
1804, to have been ratified by three-fourths of the States. 



Thirty-Eighth Congress of the United States of America ; 
At the—Second—Session, 

Begun and held at the City of Washington, on Monday, the 
fifth—day of December, one thousand eight hundred and 
sixty-four. 


A RESOLUTION 

Submitting to the legislatures of the several States a propo¬ 
sition to amend the Constitution of the United States. 


Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
(two-thirds of both houses concurring). That the following 
article be proposed to the legislatures of the several States 
as an amendment to the constitution of the United States, 
which, when ratified by three-fourths of said Legislatures, 
shall be valid, to all intents and purposes, as a part of 
the said Constitution, namely: Article XIII. Section i. 
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a 
punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been 
duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or 
any place subject to their jurisdiction, Section. 2, Con^ 


33 


gress shall have power to enforce this article by appropri¬ 
ate legislation. 

Schuyler Colfax 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
H. Hamlin 

Vice President of the United States. 

and President of the Senate. 

Approved, February i. 1865. Abraham Lincoln 


[indorsement.] 

I certify that this Resolution did originate in the Senate 

J. W. Forney 

Secretary"^ 


*The thirteenth amendment was declared in a proclamation of the Secretary of State, 
dated December i8, 1865, to have been ratified by twenty-seven of the thirty-six States. 


V 




Thirty-ninth Congress of the United States, at the first 
session, begun and held at the City of Washington, in the 
District of Columbia, on Monday the fourth day of Decem¬ 
ber, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five. 


Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution 
of the United States. 


Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
(two-thirds of both Houses concurring,) That the following 
article be proposed to the legislatures of the several States 
as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, 
which, when ratified by three-fourths of said legislatures, 
shall be valid as part of the Constitution, namely : 

Article XIV. 

Section i. All persons born or naturalized in the United 
States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of 
the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No 
State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the 
privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor 
sball any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or prop¬ 
erty, without due process of law; nor deny to any person 
within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. 

34 



35 


Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the 
several States according to their respective numbers, count¬ 
ing the whole number of persons in each State, excluding In¬ 
dians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election 
for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of 
the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Execu¬ 
tive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the 
Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants 
of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of 
the United States, or in any way abridged, except for partici¬ 
pation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representa¬ 
tion therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the 
number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number 
of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. 
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative 
in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or 
hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, 
or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as 
a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, 
or as a member of any State legislature, or as an execu¬ 
tive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitu¬ 
tion of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection 
or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to 
the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two- 
thirds of each House, remove such disability. 

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United 
States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for pay¬ 
ment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing 
insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But 


36 


neither the United States nor any State shall assume or 
pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection 
or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the 
loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obli¬ 
gations and claims shall be held illegal and void. 

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by 
appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. 

Schuyler Colfax 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

La Fayette S. Foster, 
President of the Senate pro tempore. 

Attest. 

Edw^ McPherson. 

Clerk of the House of Representatives. 

J. W. Forney 

Secretary of the Senate.'*^ 

*The fourteenth amendment being declared by a concurrent resolution of Congress, 
adopted July 21, 1868, to have been ratified by “ three-fourths and more of the several States 
of the Union,” the Secretary of State was required duly to promulgate the text. He accord¬ 
ingly issued a proclamation, dated July 28, 1868, declaring the proposed amendment to have 
been ratified by thirty of the thirty-six States. 

I 




Fortieth Congress of the United States of America; 

* At the third Session, 

Begun and held at the city of Washington, on Monday, the 
seventh day of December, one thousand eight hundred 
and sixty-eight 


A RESOLUTION 

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United 
States. 


Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
(two-thirds of both Houses concurring) That the following 
article be proposed to the legislatures of the several States 
as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, 
which, when ratified by three-fourths of said legislatures 
shall be valid as part of the Constitution, namely: 

Article XV. 

Section i. The right of citizens of the United States to 
vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or 
by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition 
of servitude — 


37 



38 


Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce 
this article by appropriate legislation — 

Schuyler Colfax 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

B. F. Wade 

President of the Senate pro tempore. 


Attest : 

Edw^ McPherson 

Clerk of House of Representatives. 
Geo. C. Gorham 

Secy of Senate U. S.* 


*The fifteenth amendment was declared in a proclamation of the Secretary of 
March 30, to have been ratified by twenty-nine of the thirty-seven States. 


\%io 


State, dated 





N. 














I 028 070 895 1 1 

















